Chamber lobbyist leaves in reorganization

Kamal Latham, one of the most high-profile leaders at the Gainesville area Chamber of Commerce, has been relieved of his role in what is being described as a structural reorganization.

Latham was one of the chamber's two registered lobbyists and vice president of public policy. His position was eliminated, according to chamber spokeswoman Alyssa Brown.

“We’re undertaking a structural reorganization of existing resources,” she said. “This is just where we are at this point.”

As of now, Brown said, there are no plans to rehire for the position and the change was not disciplinary.

Brown said Latham was the only member of the executive team to get cut, but a communications coordinator also was laid off.

Latham was also the chamber's vice president of public policy.

When he was hired, the chamber was taking a more aggressive approach to supporting efforts like "Envision Alachua," a plan by then-Plum Creek to open parts of east Alachua County to development while conserving other land, and passing a sales-tax referendum for transportation infrastructure. Neither came to pass.

A year ago, the chamber formed a political committee to endorse and fund candidates and issues that support its economic development goals. Latham was the liaison between the chamber and the committee.

Since then, the political committee opposed the Wild Spaces and Public Places referendum that passed, and unsuccessfully endorsed candidates for the Alachua County Commission and Gainesville City Commission.